Thursday's Europa League predictions including Liverpool vs. LASK Linz

Maccabi Haifa vs. Rennes (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Group leaders Rennes could secure their place in the Europa League knockout rounds when they face Maccabi Haifa on Thursday.

While the Israeli side are the designated hosts, the match will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest due to the conflict in their home country.

We say: Maccabi Haifa 1-2 Rennes

Although Rennes have won only one of their seven competitive away games this season, they will be at no real disadvantage with the contest taking place at a neutral venue.

The French side proved to be a level above in the reverse fixture, and while we do not expect another 3-0 scoreline, we still believe Rennes will have enough quality to record a narrow victory.

Freiburg vs. Olympiacos (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Freiburg will be looking to secure their place in the Europa League knockout rounds when they welcome Olympiacos to Europa-Park Stadion for their penultimate Group A fixture on Thursday.

The visitors, meanwhile, know that they must claim all three points in Germany if they wish to keep their slim hopes of a top-two finish alive.

We say: Freiburg 2-1 Olympiacos

Following the five-goal thriller between these two teams in Greece two months ago, another entertaining contest with plenty of goalmouth action could be in store on Thursday.

The onus is on Olympiacos to take the game to Freiburg and push them all the way in their quest to claim maximum points, but we believe the hosts will ultimately do enough to secure a slender victory and book their place in the knockout rounds.

Backa Topola vs. West Ham (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Seeking to secure their spot in the Europa League knockout rounds, West Ham United travel to TSC Arena in Serbia to face Backa Topola in their penultimate Group A fixture on Thursday.

The two teams meet for the first time since the end of September when the Hammers claimed a 3-1 home win in the reverse fixture in East London.

We say: Backa Topola 1-3 West Ham United

Backa Topola's comfortable win over Partizan last weekend has given them a much-needed confidence boost ahead of Thursday's clash, but coming out on top against an in-form West Ham side will be a tall order.

The Hammers, who had to come from behind to beat TSC in the reverse fixture, cannot take the hosts lightly, but they should have enough strength in depth to claim maximum points in Serbia.

AEK Athens vs. Brighton (Thursday, 5.45pm)

AEK Athens and Brighton & Hove Albion will endeavour to boost their chances of reaching the Europa League knockout rounds when they lock horns at the Agia Sofia Stadium for their penultimate Group B fixture on Thursday.

The Seagulls will be seeking revenge against their Greek counterparts after suffering a 3-2 home defeat in the reverse fixture in September.

We say: AEK Athens 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

AEK Athens' victory over Brighton two months ago was certainly a reality check for De Zerbi and co, but both teams have since experienced contrasting runs of form in Group B and another closely-fought contest could be in store on Thursday.

Brighton will be motivated by the prospect of securing European knockout football for the first time in their history with a win in Greece, and even though they are missing several injured stars, De Zerbi should have enough at his disposal to steer the Seagulls to maximum points.

Sparta Prague vs. Betis (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Aiming to take a step closer to booking their place in the Europa League knockout stage, Real Betis will travel to Czech Republic on Thursday to take on Sparta Prague in the penultimate round of group fixtures.

Heading into the final two games, the Spanish outfit currently top the group but only lead second place by two points, while their hosts find themselves third and three points outside the top two.

We say: Sparta Prague 1-2 Real Betis

Real Betis certainly have a tough trip on their hands on Thursday, with Sparta Prague fighting for crucial points on home turf, but Pellegrini's side have the quality to come out on top in the Czech capital and we fancy them to make it four straight three-point hauls in the group.

Atalanta vs. Sporting Lisbon (Thursday, 5.45pm)

The two standout sides in Group D of the Europa League meet at the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday, when Sporting Lisbon travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta BC.

A win for La Dea on matchday two means they are currently in the ascendancy to top the group, and just a point here will ensure direct passage into the last 16.

We say: Atalanta BC 2-2 Sporting Lisbon

A point will be enough for Sporting to qualify and for Atalanta to win the group, so a stalemate is likely for two sides who have little to separate themselves.

While Sporting will still hold slim hopes of leapfrogging Atalanta at the top of the group, losing at home to La Dea on matchday two suggests that it will be a difficult ask to beat them to turn the head-to-head in their favour here.

Sturm Graz vs. Rakow (Thursday, 5.45pm)

Sturm Graz will look to keep their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockouts alive when they welcome Rakow Czestochowa to Austria on Thursday.

The hosts need to match Sporting Lisbon's result this week before facing them on matchday six, while Rakow are already out but can still keep hopes of a Europa Conference League spot alive if they win here.

We say: Sturm Graz 2-0 Rakow Czestochowa

After a win in Poland on matchday two, Sturm will be big favourites to win here to keep their hopes alive heading into matchday six.

Rakow have unsurprisingly struggled as one of the competition debutants this season, and with two huge league games on the horizon, focus may soon switch to domestic matters only.

Liverpool vs. LASK (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Liverpool can ensure progression to the Europa League knockout round playoffs - at the very least - when LASK Linz head to Anfield for Thursday's Group E contest.

The Merseyside meeting will pit first against worst, as the Reds lead the way in the section with nine points, while the Austrian side have just three to their name and sit bottom as a result.

We say: Liverpool 3-1 LASK Linz

With just the one clean sheet to show from their four Europa League affairs this term, a rejigged Liverpool backline may not emerge unscathed against a LASK Linz side needing to adopt an all-out attack approach to keep their chances of a top-two finish alive.

Such a strategy will inevitably leave space for Klopp's effervescent attackers to exploit, though, and the Reds should still get the job done comfortably to advance to the knockout rounds.

> How Liverpool could line up against LASK Linz

> Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. LASK Linz

Toulouse vs. Union SG (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Still capable of pipping Liverpool to first place in Europa League Group E, Toulouse play host to fellow knockout hopefuls Union SG on Thursday evening in the penultimate round of matches.

A nail-biting finale could be in store for both sides, who are only separated by one place in the rankings after four matches, but a victory for the French outfit would seal both teams' fates.

We say: Toulouse 2-1 Union SG

With their penchant for profligacy in the Europa League well-documented, Union SG will struggle to fight fire with fire on Toulouse's turf, where Les Violets have only been beaten in one of their last nine competitive matches.

A closely-fought contest should still be in store, as was the case in September, but the return of a well-rested Dallinga should give Toulouse the extra attacking edge required to get over the line and ensure a top-two finish.

Villarreal vs. Panathinaikos (Thursday, 8.00pm)

With two points separating the two sides, Villarreal and Panathinaikos will face off in a crucial Europa League meeting on Thursday.

The Greek side claimed the spoils when the two sides met in September, making full use of home advantage to record a 2-0 victory over the Yellow Submarine.

We say: Villarreal 2-1 Panathinaikos

Villarreal have won each of their last eight Europa League home games, and we think they will continue that impressive record by claiming a narrow win over a Panathinaikos side that has taken just a point from their two away group games.

Servette vs. Roma (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Servette welcome Roma to Geneva knowing anything but a win over the Giallorossi will see them eliminated from the Europa League.

Jose Mourinho will return to the dugout for the first time in UEFA competition this season, with his Roma side neck-and-neck with Slavia Prague in chasing top spot in Group G.

We say: Servette 1-1 Roma

While embroiled in a very competitive title race domestically with a trip to Young Boys coming up, Servette will look to keep their fantastic home record going here.

Roma's woes on the road this season are well documented, and they may come unstuck despite such a comfortable victory against the same opponents at the Olimpico on matchday two.

Sheriff Tiraspol vs. Slavia Prague (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Europa League Group G leaders Slavia Prague travel to Transnistria to face Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday in the hope of keeping Roma at arm's length in the race for top spot.

Given the importance of topping the group, as it ensures passage directly to the last 16, Slavia are currently in the ascendancy on goal difference, with nothing to split the sides on head-to-head.

We say: Sheriff Tiraspol 0-2 Slavia Prague

Slavia came up with a big win over Roma on matchday four, so they will want to ensure they do not waste the opportunity they now have to win the group by claiming all three points against a side they beat 6-0 less than two months ago.

Sheriff have been way below the level they have shown in past European campaigns, and are likely to suffer the fate of bottom place in this group by losing here.